Conformable pad skive

Abstract

In an electrostatographic copier or printer, a skive with a base and a stripping edge is provided for removing copy sheets from the surface of a fuser roller that is coated with a resilient material such as rubber. The stripping edge of the skive is made from a hard material and the base of the skive which contacts and rides on the surface of the fuser roller is made from a soft material. Relative to the fuser roller coating, the hard material has a higher modulus of rigidity and the soft material has an equal or lower modulus of rigidity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus in a copier or printer for stripping copy sheets from the surface of a fuser roller that is coated with a resilient material such as silicone rubber, the apparatus comprising: (a) a solid, generally triangular stripping member having a base and a first stripping edge, said stripping member consisting of a hard material that, relative to the surface material of the fuser roller has a higher modulus of rigidity, said base having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the fuser roller and said base further having a groove therein;   (b) means for pivotably supporting and urging said stripping member against the surface of the fuser roller;   (c) a thick conformable pad positioned in said groove and having an outer surface for contacting the surface of the fuser roller, said pad having substantially the same dimensions as said groove including a bottom portion with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the fuser roller, and said pad further consisting of a soft material that, relative to the surface material of the fuser roller has an equal or lower modulus of rigidity; and   (d) a shim with a length and width substantially equal to that of said groove, the shim being positioned in said groove between said stripping member and said pad for causing said pad to protrude from said base of said stripping member by a distance substantially equivalent to said thickness of said shim, and for spacing said stripping edge from the surface of the fuser roller.   
     
     
       2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stripping member has a second stripping edge, and wherein said second edge and said first edge are symmetric about said groove in said base of said stripping member so that said stripping member can be mounted with either of said edges positioned to be engaged with a copy sheet on the fuser roller.